This is what i've been told by my school and various others.
The IMC is a good introduction to the IR rating. The hours can count towards your IR rating plus you get them at a cheaper rate. However, they recommend doing the full FAA IR rating instead. IT is virtually the same price as the IMC rating but more comprehensive and widely recognised. Plus, apparently, when you recieve your FAA IR rating you can pay the CAA a nominal fee (I think it's £60) and recieve an IMC into the bargain.
This would obviously make studying for the JAA IR rating seem far less daunting.
Just food for thought.
[ 14 January 2002: Message edited by: bow5 ]</p>